BEST MERCEDES WE HAVE DRIVEN

I'll be honest — I'm a heart-and-soul BMW person. Always have been. So when a Mercedes genuinely surprises me, it deserves to be said.

We first sold this very C43 Coupe in 2025, and I described it at the time as "the best Mercedes I've ever driven." Well, we've just bought it back from a very good customer and friend of ours, and I haven't changed my mind. In fact, having the opportunity to sell the same car for a second time is rather satisfying. We know this example exceptionally well, we know how it's been looked after, and we're delighted to have it back.

I've always thought the C43 occupies a rather special position in the AMG range. Everyone talks about the C63, and understandably so, but for the roads we actually drive on, I genuinely think the C43 is the sweet spot. With nearly 390 HP, the performance is already more than enough, but it's the way the car delivers it that impresses me. The four-wheel-drive system gives you tremendous confidence, particularly in poorer weather, and the balance between the steering, chassis and drivetrain is remarkably well judged. Everything seems to work together. There's none of that feeling of having more power than the car can comfortably use, and you can really enjoy what it's capable of without needing perfect conditions.

Then there's the sound. The V6 in these has a wonderful character, and the Mercedes valved sports exhaust makes an enormous difference. Open the valves and it's properly entertaining, with a rich, distinctive soundtrack that I think suits the car beautifully. Close them and it settles down into something perfectly civilised. The adjustable suspension, gearbox and driving modes only add to that versatility. It's one of the things I enjoyed so much about this car the first time around, and something I still appreciate now.

This particular C43 also benefits from the Premium Plus specification, which is a meaningful step above the regular Premium package. The Burmester sound system is excellent, the tilt-and-slide panoramic roof makes a huge difference to the cabin, and the 360-degree cameras are genuinely useful. The heated, electrically adjustable memory seats are finished in leather and Alcantara with contrasting red stitching, complemented by ambient lighting throughout the interior. It's a lovely combination, and the equipment really does add to the experience of owning the car.

The service history is another reason we're so comfortable offering this Mercedes again. Its first six services were carried out by Mercedes-Benz main dealers, beginning in September 2019 and continuing through to June 2024. We then serviced it ourselves in December 2025 at 32,416 miles, replacing the oil and air filter, and have now completed another service in November 2026, including oil, air filter, pollen filter, brake fluid and wipers. It's a consistent record of maintenance, and having personally supplied the car to its previous owner gives us that additional familiarity you simply don't get with every vehicle.

Now showing 45,840 miles, the car still presents very nicely. The interior has remarkably little wear, the brakes are in lovely condition and the tyres have recently been replaced all round. It's clear that the care we've known throughout its recent ownership has continued. Annual road tax is also just £200, which is a welcome bonus for a car with this much performance.

We don't often get the chance to revisit a car we enjoyed selling quite this much. But having this C43 back has reminded me why I rated it so highly in the first place. I'm still a BMW person at heart, but this Mercedes remains one of the very few cars that has genuinely made me question that loyalty.


KP68